The godmothers: women take charge of Italy's mafia syndicates as their men rot in prison

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Maria Angela Di Trapani (C), a female mobster suspected of being the mastermind behind a reshuffle of the Sicilian Mafia following the death of "boss of bosses" Toto RiinaCredit:
ANDRO FUCARINI/AFP/Getty Images

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They say it's a family business, but traditionally women in the Italian mafia were prison messengers or bargaining chips in dynasty marriages to create alliances between clans.

Now as male mob bosses languish in jail, mafiosas are increasingly stepping up to head crime families - and getting caught in the process.

After seven years behind bars, one such godmother - Maria Angela Di Trapani - was freed from prison in 2015 and for the last two years has allegedly been quietly moving up through the secretive, male-dominated ranks of Sicily's Cosa Nostra.

On Tuesday, the 49-year-old wife of notorious boss Salvino Madonia was among 25 people arrested in a sweeping Palermo raid, accused once again...